Deliberate fires down but attacks on firefighters up

With the lighter nights soon to be upon us, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has launched a campaign aimed at reducing incidents involving anti-social behaviour.
During the spring months of April and May, the fire and rescue service sees an increase in the number of fires which are set deliberately. Although the number of deliberate fires reduced during this period last year, it is still one of the busiest times of the year, along with the Bonfire period.
A more worrying trend is the increase in the number of verbal and physical attacks on fire crews attending incidents.
Between January and December 2015 there were 25 reported attacks on firefighters. This figure doubled to 50 during the same period in 2016.
Group Manager Tony Markwell, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is totally unacceptable that firefighters are being subjected to physical and verbal abuse while working to protect our local communities.
“We take these attacks on our firefighters very seriously and work closely with Northumbria Police and the local authorities to resolve these issues, including reviewing CCTV footage from the cameras which are fitted on all our fire appliances.”
Over the next few months, fire officers will be will be carrying out talks at schools in areas where there are particular issues with anti-social behaviour fires. The aim is to make young people aware of the dangers of setting fires deliberately.
The Service will be working closely with each of the five local authorities in Tyne and Wear to carry out clear ups to get rid of any rubbish or fly tipping as part of the campaign. They will also remind residents to only put their bins out on the morning of their collection and to bring them back in again straight afterwards, to avoid them being a target.
Leaflets and posters are being distributed across the area to warn people of the dangers of setting fires deliberately and where they can report fly tipping and build-up of other materials which could be set fire to. There is also a social media campaign and website providing information about the dangers of deliberate fires.
Fire crews across Tyne and Wear will be visiting their local hot spot areas as part of their usual routine and reporting any potential targets for fires to their local authorities so they can be removed.
Tony Markwell added: "I would urge parents to make sure they know what their children are doing if they go out during the lighter nights and to support this campaign by making them aware of the dangers of setting fires deliberately or attacking firefighters.
"What may seem like a bit of harmless fun can easily lead to something much worse - causing serious damage to property and people's lives. How would they feel if it was their property being damaged or even worse their own life or a family member or friend's life was under threat? Fire is unpredictable and dangerous, not only can it kill and injure, but deliberately setting a fire can leave you with a criminal record and scar you for life."
In Newcastle, our teams will be giving educational talks at local hot spot primary and secondary schools with Northumbria Police. Prevention and Education staff, volunteers and fire cadets will take part in community clean-ups in hot spot areas and staff will work with partner organisations to engage with local communities and youth groups.
In North Tyneside our teams will be giving joint education talks on anti-social behaviour, including littering, setting deliberate fires and attacks on crews, at five primary schools and three secondary schools. Operation Hotspots will be carried out in three areas - North Shields, Longbenton and Wallsend.
In Gateshead we will be using Parentmail to alert parents to ensure their children are not involved in anti-social behaviour and TWFRS staff will give talks at school assemblies. Leaflets regarding wheelie bins will be delivered to 2,000 homes and free home safety checks, including advice on wheelie bins, will be carried out in central Gateshead and Birtley.
In South Tyneside, our teams will be giving talks at South Shields Community School, Jarrow School, Hebburn Schools, Boldon School and Mortimer College. The two alternative education departments are also being visited to highlight this year's campaign message. Our Prevention and Education staff will also be working Northumbria Police, South Tyneside Homes and South Tyneside Council in the Boldon Colliery area in a bid to reduce fly tipping.
In Sunderland, our teams will be targeting Pupil Referral Units, Academy 360, Sandhill View, Hetton and Houghton, due to a recent increase in deliberate fires, and will be holding joint assemblies with Northumbria Police. Prevention and education teams and volunteers will be stickering wheelie bins and delivering leaflets in specific areas. They will also be working with Keep Washington Tidy, targeting Striding Edge, Armstrong Road and Washington town centre.
For more information on how to stay safe from fire please visit www.twfire.gov.uk or www.facebook.com/twfrs or www.twitter.com/tyne_wear_frs, or www.instagram.com/twfrs